By keeping up with your kitchen appearance and cleanliness, you can help keep the germs and bacteria at bay. There are many places in your kitchen where bacteria can colonize and grow. Obviously, this can be a very bad thing since all your food will be stored here. And so it becomes very important that you try to maintain a daily or weekly cleaning schedule in order to keep these germs and bacteria at bay and to help you keep your kitchen looking nice and clean. Next, we will go over some of the things that you can do to help you create a better cleaning task list for your cleaning routine.
Is Anti-Bacterial Cleaning Worth It?
Kitchen Cleaning is one of those unavoidable tasks; it’s just something that must be done each and every day. Whether you are single and living in an apartment or a mom in a larger home, you want to be sure that your kitchen is not only clean but also germ-free. During the past 10 years, anti-bacterial cleaning products have flooded the market. At first, these products were convenient, providing a simple way to disinfect kitchen sinks and countertops.
But today, research has revealed that these products are overused and causing some strains of bacteria to become resistant. In fact, the Singapore Medical Association recommends that consumers limit their exposure to anti-bacterial products. With more than three-quarters of soaps and cleaning products containing anti-bacterial ingredients, it’s hard to avoid purchasing these type of cleaning products.
The good news is that you can make your own homemade disinfecting kitchen cleaning products without the anti-bacterial agents. If you do purchase cleaning products, try to avoid those containing following chlorine, lye, glycol ethers, and ammonia.
Disinfecting Countertops and Sinks Without Using Anti-Bacteria Cleaners
Using hot, soapy water is one of the best ways to clean your counters and sinks. Borax is a wonderful natural disinfectant. Dissolve some borax in water. Place into a spray bottle and use wherever you desire. Some countertops require special cleaning care. For example, granite should not be cleaned with vinegar. Instead, use hot, soapy water mixed with a bit of rubbing alcohol.
It will also help give the counters some extra shine. Don’t wipe your counters with a sponge that’s been sitting in your sink. This can transfer bacteria to your countertops. Use a rag or a paper towel to wipe your counters. Old T-shirts or undershirts make some of the best rags. Simply cut to your desired size. Keep separate sponges for sink cleaning. Do not use the same sponge for washing dishes and cleaning the sink, as it could transfer bacteria. A stainless steel sink can be disinfected with some vinegar and 3% hydrogen peroxide.
Sponges
Sponges should be replaced regularly to avoid bacteria growth. Bacteria favor sponges because they are damp and provide a nice environment for them to grow in. One of the best tricks is to place your sponge in the microwave for 1-3 minutes. Keep a close eye on the sponge, as microwaves vary. As soon as you see steam coming from the sponge, you can turn off the microwave. Wait a few minutes for the sponge to cool down before removing it from the microwave.
Cutting Boards
If you are worried that your cutting boards may have bacteria buildup, put them in the dishwasher. The combination of soap and very hot water will kill the bacteria without using any anti-bacterial products.
The bottom line in kitchen cleaning is to use your common sense. If you rarely use anti-bacterial products, then occasional use won’t be harmful. Try to wash dishes promptly and clean spills as they occur. This will make your kitchen cleanup easier and less germ-prone.
The most common area in your kitchen where you’ll find bacterial life would be your kitchen countertops. The kitchen countertop gives germs plenty of surface area to dwell in. Because you’ll be laying your foods on your kitchen countertop most of the time, it becomes very important to maintain a clean countertop surface to avoid any food contamination. One of the most effective ways to get your kitchen countertop really cleaned is to use a kitchen cleaning sprayer that has bleach mixed in it. Alternatively, you could also use hot water with dishwashing soap and a sponge if you prefer. Just be sure to keep the water hot when wiping down the countertop otherwise the bacterias and germs on the surface won’t be killed.
Your kitchen cleaning routine should always include moping as this not only helps to keep your feet and socks clean when you’re moving around the kitchen, but it’ll also help eliminate any potential microorganism and other bacteria that might be dwelling in the crevices of the kitchen flooring. It is always best to use hot water when moping as this will be the most effective for killing off any germs and bacteria that are living in the creases of your flooring. To get the moping done much quicker, you can invest in a steam-powered mop. These are versatile and can work on pretty much any type of kitchen flooring.
Once the kitchen floors and countertops are thoroughly cleaned, the next thing on the list that must be cleaned is the kitchen cabinets. The main focus when cleaning kitchen cabinets is the exterior. When wiping off the dust, it is a good idea to use some kind of statically charged duster towel so that all the dust doesn’t fly free.
Once you have finished cleaning your kitchen cabinets, the last thing that you need to do to complete your kitchen cleaning is to clean your kitchen appliances. This includes your refrigerator, oven, microwaves, toaster, etc. Make sure you wipe down these appliances good using a degrease spray so that you can remove any oil and grease residue that’s left behind from cooking. Chances are there are baked on grease and oil build up in the oven and they can be very difficult to remove. To get rid of these grease build up, you’re going to need to burn them out by turning your oven on high and letting it run for about 30 minutes. Running your oven at high temperature will liquidify the grease and oil to make it much easier to clean up.